Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis, who has also featured in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings, Rising Pune Supergiant and Royal Challengers Bangalore (now Royal Challengers Bengaluru), heaped praise on young Lucknow Super Giants wicket-keeper batter Mukul Choudhary. Du Plessis singled out Choudhary’s match-winning knock against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on Thursday.
Quick facts
- Mukul Choudhary powered Lucknow Super Giants to a last-ball victory over Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens.
- Choudhary finished unbeaten on 54 off 27 balls, including seven sixes and two fours.
- Faf du Plessis praised Choudhary’s power and his ability to stay calm under pressure.
- Du Plessis compared Choudhary’s flicking shots to MS Dhoni.
- Du Plessis added that tight wins can swing a team’s season and build confidence.
- He also said Kolkata Knight Riders are going through a rough patch, with close moments not going their way.
Choudhary’s innings came in a tense chase, as he remained unbeaten at the crease and finished the job with a flourish. His 54 off 27 balls included seven maximums and two boundaries, setting up a dramatic end at Eden Gardens where Lucknow edged it on the final ball.
Du Plessis on Choudhary’s composure and impact
Speaking on JioStar, du Plessis highlighted that what stood out wasn’t only the hitting, but also the awareness to see the game through. He described it as “incredible to see the awareness to take the game through,” adding that the “power from the young man” was remarkable.
The former captain went a step further by drawing comparisons to MS Dhoni’s style. He pointed specifically to Choudhary’s flick shots, saying that some of the strokes reminded him of Dhoni from his playing days, noting “so much power” behind those moments. Du Plessis also remarked on the nature of T20 cricket itself—how matches swing through ebbs and flows—before stressing that Choudhary managed to “steal it towards the end.”
How a close win can shape a season
Du Plessis then shifted to the bigger picture, explaining how games like this can define the direction of a franchise’s season. He argued that momentum often changes when a side wins a match it could have let slip, particularly when a young and comparatively inexperienced player steps forward and completes the chase.
He added that there are “little moments in the season” that can almost be seen as turning points, stressing that if the result had gone the other way, the outlook for Lucknow would have looked different. In his view, pulling off a victory from a situation that could easily have tilted against them should lift the team’s confidence as the tournament moves on.
KKR’s tough run and missed chances
On the other side, du Plessis suggested that Kolkata Knight Riders appear to be struggling with their luck this season. He pointed to a record of three defeats and one match washed out, saying the results have not fallen in their favour.
He also referenced the kind of fine margins that decide tight T20 contests, singling out small errors such as failing to convert “easy runs” during crucial stretches. Du Plessis summed it up by saying that those “50-50 moments are just not falling in their favour,” and stressed that teams must stay razor sharp in key situations to win matches that come down to the wire.
